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Accutane Journey [Will update every 2 weeks]

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4 month update

Clear skin still but occasionally getting a pimple but thats nothing compared to before, going to stop updating this monthly as my results have been the same since month 2 so i'll update after i come off Accutane and let you know if my acne comes back, currently though i'm loving Accutane and would stay on it my whole life if it means my skin is spot free like this...good luck.
5 months & 1 week update

Still clear skin, my red marks where actual spots used to be are now fading (accutane makes skin recovery very slow) and what can i say the drug is life changing....i have tried i believe 4 different antibiotics some even two times each, dozens of creams and washes etc and don't even get me started on "natural" stuff and nothing worked, people claim this drug causes all sorts but all i got from it was back pains and dryness that will go once i stop the treatment but either way i'd rather put up with that my whole life than an acne covered face, back, chest etc!

I have a dermatologist appointment today to see how i'm doing still as my last appointment was at 3 months where she gave me the remainder of tablets and stopped my blood tests so i'll see what she says today and will ask her some more questions regarding what happens when i come off just to maybe help people wondering about Accutane etc as i want this journey to be as informative as possible. Tablet wise i have two boxes left which will last me i believe 1 month which means in total my course has lasted 6 months at 40mg for first two months and 60mg for 4 months as thats all my body could handle due to my levels rising too high but everyone's body reacts different.

I will just edit this thread later today after my appointment, just to quickly note again as i have people sending me messages, i am not a dermatologist i'm just a patient who's taking Accutane to treat 6 years of unresponsive acne but the points listed on this journey are what has been told to me by a qualified NHS dermatologist, this is just my journey so people can read it and get answers and see the process of being on Accutane or how to get the ball rolling to even get on Accutane and i just want to help people who was in my position where you're sick of acne and want to try Accutane but don't know how to get on it or whats involved i.e blood tests and i will do my best to answer any questions anyone has.


Update: weird turn of events, i have been bumped up to 80mg now for 7 weeks so i would say my total course now is more like 8 months not 6 months and also my blood tests have resumed.
Good luck!
(edited 2 years ago)
I’m currently 3 months into my Accutane journey and couldn’t be having a more opposite experience to you 😔 I’ve had no response to the medication so far, my skin is still breaking out the same and I’m finding the dermatology service a nightmare. I’ve run out of medication and have been trying to get in touch with them for a week to arrange an appointment or some more medication but no ones replying to me. I’m having a really frustrating time with the whole thing. I’ve heard lots of people have good things to say but my personal experience so far with NHS dermatology is the whole ordeal is a waste of time
Original post by Anonymous
I’m currently 3 months into my Accutane journey and couldn’t be having a more opposite experience to you 😔 I’ve had no response to the medication so far, my skin is still breaking out the same and I’m finding the dermatology service a nightmare. I’ve run out of medication and have been trying to get in touch with them for a week to arrange an appointment or some more medication but no ones replying to me. I’m having a really frustrating time with the whole thing. I’ve heard lots of people have good things to say but my personal experience so far with NHS dermatology is the whole ordeal is a waste of time

What is your dosage?
How bad/where is your acne?
Any side effects to hint your body is absorbing the drug?

I find it odd you've ran out of medication....dermatologists have to prescribe you enough tablets to make sure you'll always have enough before they see you again...like my derm prescribed me 3 months worth after my second visit and my visit today 7 weeks worth...i was told that missing a day isn't ideal but okay so if you've missed say a week of dosage that can start reversing your effects meaning it will be like starting it again hence why they have to make sure you never run out while on the course, personally i would go into the hospital and to the pharmacy and explain to them and they'll be able to look on the system and will either ring up to your derm or prescribe you your pills required but if what your saying is true then your derm department is ran very poorly....i would consider going elsewhere or requesting a new derm and explain why, if that fails bite the bullet and go private.

Accutane is a serious drug and not ideally a drug you want to start just to end up stopping not even half way due to missing pills as it just slows down or even stops the progress all together...accutane is slowly changing the way your body works and takes time so thats why once you start you cant really stop, i have never missed a day and wont.
(edited 2 years ago)
Original post by Nick6501
What is your dosage?
How bad/where is your acne?
Any side effects to hint your body is absorbing the drug?

I find it odd you've ran out of medication....dermatologists have to prescribe you enough tablets to make sure you'll always have enough before they see you again...like my derm prescribed me 3 months worth after my second visit and my visit today 7 weeks worth...i was told that missing a day isn't ideal but okay so if you've missed say a week of dosage that can start reversing your effects meaning it will be like starting it again hence why they have to make sure you never run out while on the course, personally i would go into the hospital and to the pharmacy and explain to them and they'll be able to look on the system and will either ring up to your derm or prescribe you your pills required but if what your saying is true then your derm department is ran very poorly....i would consider going elsewhere or requesting a new derm and explain why, if that fails bite the bullet and go private.

Accutane is a serious drug and not ideally a drug you want to start just to end up stopping not even half way due to missing pills as it just slows down or even stops the progress all together...accutane is slowly changing the way your body works and takes time so thats why once you start you cant really stop, i have never missed a day and wont.


Dosage is 40mg (body weight is 55kg), acne is mild to moderate on cheeks, there’s a hint in that my hair seems less greasy so I don’t need to wash it as regularly but skin and lips remain the same

Honestly I kept ringing and ringing and had to say look, I have one day of medication left so if someone doesn’t call me back to sort this by the end of the day then I’m raising a complaint and I got a call back pretty quickly after that!

It’s shocking 😂
Original post by Anonymous
Dosage is 40mg (body weight is 55kg), acne is mild to moderate on cheeks, there’s a hint in that my hair seems less greasy so I don’t need to wash it as regularly but skin and lips remain the same

Honestly I kept ringing and ringing and had to say look, I have one day of medication left so if someone doesn’t call me back to sort this by the end of the day then I’m raising a complaint and I got a call back pretty quickly after that!

It’s shocking 😂

What dose did you start on? 40mg is quite high for your weight actually as i was on 40mg for i believe two months maybe three and i weigh something like 78kg at the time, does sound like you have deep standing acne meaning accutane has to push all of that out your skin which sadly takes time, is the only side effect your hair being less greasy? hm its hard to tell but i would say your body is just slow at responding to the treatment and your deep standing acne is slowing process even more so i would give it time.

Thats good so have they written you a new prescription? i would still change derm if you can as when on a drug like accutane you dont want step backs like that, seems some people absorb and respond fast to acctuane as i had clear skin by end of month 2 and still do where as some dont even see any change until the very end or until they actually come off as accutane keeps working for months after your last pill.
(edited 2 years ago)
Original post by Nick6501
What dose did you start on? 40mg is quite high for your weight actually as i was on 40mg for i believe two months maybe three and i weigh something like 78kg at the time, does sound like you have deep standing acne meaning accutane has to push all of that out your skin which sadly takes time, is the only side effect your hair being less greasy? hm its hard to tell but i would say your body is just slow at responding to the treatment and your deep standing acne is slowing process even more so i would give it time.

Thats good so have they written you a new prescription? i would still change derm if you can as when on a drug like accutane you dont want step backs like that, seems some people absorb and respond fast to acctuane as i had clear skin by end of month 2 and still do where as some dont even see any change until the very end or until they actually come off as accutane keeps working for months after your last pill.


Started wayyyyy down on 10! They’ve actually put me up to 60mg as of today which is high so we’ll see how that goes. I spent 2 months on 10-20 mg so it may be that not enough has accumulated in my body? Accutane is the best option I have though so I’ll keep trying 😂
Original post by Anonymous
Started wayyyyy down on 10! They’ve actually put me up to 60mg as of today which is high so we’ll see how that goes. I spent 2 months on 10-20 mg so it may be that not enough has accumulated in my body? Accutane is the best option I have though so I’ll keep trying 😂

Ohh okay yeah at 10mg i cant imagine that doing much as Accutane needs to be a dosage that meets your weight but they start people low to see how you respond, i would say give it 6 months and if nothing is happening then its a cause for concern but for now its a case of waiting sadly, from what i have heard your body needs a total mg before coming off so your acne wont come back like depending on your weight you need a certain amount total at the end of your course so as long as yours is below that you wont really see benefits but now you're on 60mg i would imagine you'll see results fairly quickly now and your course might even end quicker.
6 months & 4 days update

Still clear skin, my tablets run out in around two weeks then my course is done but only side effect i have gotten from being increased from 60mg to 80mg is back pain that comes and goes.

My next update i will do after my last derm appointment on Jan 5th then after that if you hear nothing from me then my acne stayed away! right now though i would 100% say to the people having no luck is to try and get on Accutane, maybe i got lucky but reading all the bad reviews and supposedly health issues caused by Accutane to me just seems massively exaggerated, either that or myself and 4 others i know who's been on it are very lucky.

- Dry skin, lips, eyes - Used moisturizer and eye drops as well as lip balm to combat this
- Muscle cramps - Never got bad enough to need anything to combat it
- Back pains - Only for last month but when it got bad i would use deep heat but i only had to use that twice

Putting up with those for not a single spot? would make that deal anytime....will see if my acne returns but if it does i wouldn't think twice about going back on Accutane.

Good luck!
Final chapter

After 207 days on Accutane today was my last appointment with my derm and my last blood test, i have a box of tablets left to finish which will last me around a week then i'm done and off Accutane, here is questions i asked :

Will my acne return once i finish my last box?
A- Most patients wont have a flare up after stopping Accutane but may get the odd spot, with you (me) having no spots now its a good sign it wont return but for some people they might need a second or third course.

What happens if it does return?
A- You'll need to see your GP again who will decide if its a flareup that can be dealt with using creams and antibiotics or he'll refer you back to us for a second course

Anything i need to avoid?
A- For 6 months i cant have any sort of treatment etc on my face like scar removal, still need to watch my alcohol intake and use sun block and Vaseline's still etc

What is the red marking on my face?
A- The red marks are my skin healing and after some time will completely return to normal (accutane makes your skin heal wayyyy slower)

So yeah finally my course is over, after this last box of tablets it would of lasted around 215 days and i don't have a single spot so if i just get an odd spot then i don't mind but if it comes back full force i'd happily keep going on this drug.

I won't reply to this unless my acne comes back, good luck.
I have had a few people messaging me asking if my acne came back when i came off and the answer is to some extent yes, i don't know exactly how many days off accutane i am now but judging by post dates i'd say almost 3 months, currently getting spots come back but not as aggressive and not as many.

I knew coming off Accutane i would get spots again just not acne and getting a few spots here and there is considered normal so please remember this when you come off, as long as i only getting a few spots at a time it wont bother me or prompt me to start accutane again as its a long draining process but if these breakouts get worse and my acne comes back fully i would go back on accutane.

Does accutane work? yes it does it really is the best drug and chance you have for getting rid of acne but i first started it thinking i would never get a spot again and i didn't while on it i had 0 spots and for first month off i had 0 spots then one day when im guessing Accutane finally was out my system i got a few spots and realised spots and acne aren't the same thing...

I feel completely fine, i haven't magically got all these life threatening illnesses that everyone blames accutane for and my dryness and everything is gone now, i would still encourage people to try at least two creams and two antibiotics before Accutane but remember don't let your GPs take you for fools like they did me wasting years trying different creams and tablets so find a balance where you've tried enough treatments to make a case for accutane but not too many where you've wasted years of your life trying pointless things.

good luck.
(edited 2 years ago)
Hey man, i just wanna say ur doing great and thanks for updating us and helping us understand the process a lot better!

I know this was a few months ago but I have a dermatology appointment coming up and is so eager to get on this Accutane as I have plans for the summer and want to quickly get through the purging stage.

How long will it take to get your first dosage of Accutane from the first derma appointment?
Original post by Anonymous
Hi, so i just started 40mg of Accutane via the NHS and i know a lot of people wonder what the process is like and also side effects along the way as well as results. (this is what i experience it is different for others)

My process of getting Roaccutane was rather complex, i firstly had to obviously see my GP after trying 4 antibiotics and a dozen creams he sent me off to a specialist, i was contacted by a dermatology clinic who is basically like a GP but more specialised in skin issues but she couldn't prescribe Roaccutane but she's like the go between to say yes or no to you needing to see a NHS dermatologist (again this is how my town works i don't know about elsewhere) she seen me and submitted me to my local hospital where i was seen by a lovely dermatologist who explained everything and asked me questions regarding depression and so forth as well as explaining my blood tests.

I wasn't asked to strip or wear a gown, she simply asked me about my acne like where it is and relies on you being truthful as remember if you're not 100% straight with them and lie or dont communicate side effects you're putting yourself at risk! Roaccutane is a serious drug, i did see people asking about having to strip on here so i did ask her and she told me for acne they do not ask any patient to strip except ask to take your top off if you describe acne on your back or chest etc or you can choose to simply explain your acne like how bad it is if you don't want to take your top off, everything is a choice except mandatory blood tests etc.

I cant remember exactly but i did have high levels on my blood test but was told this wasn't a concern, only mentioning this as people seem to think they will be denied Roaccutane for slightly high levels that they test for, she told me on each test if something comes back high they plan a new dosage or short break and do everything they possibly can to prevent having to take you off it as remember this is a serious controlled treatment that costs a bomb and last thing they want is to just pull you off it months in but if you experience bad side effects or your levels spiral massively they will sadly have to take you off it.

I was told to not take protein shakes or push myself at the gym, i can still exercise and do weights but lighter than normal i.e no overload and things.

I have only been on this drug for literally a few hours lol i took my first dosage 2 hours ago, will update every 2 weeks on my acne and side effects all the way until i'm finished on the course, feel free to ask questions and i will try to answer them but remember i'm a patient not a dermatologist :smile:


Hey I’ve been on these tablets for 6 weeks now! Been really really good so far, just having some dry skin/lips. But my skin has improved a lot and can’t wait for it to get even better. Wish you all the best
Original post by Anonymous
Hey man, i just wanna say ur doing great and thanks for updating us and helping us understand the process a lot better!

I know this was a few months ago but I have a dermatology appointment coming up and is so eager to get on this Accutane as I have plans for the summer and want to quickly get through the purging stage.

How long will it take to get your first dosage of Accutane from the first derma appointment?

Hey, thanks and i just thought i would document it as i too was trying to find answers and real experiences on here so i knew what to expect, So my GP sent off a referral for me to see a dermatologist however in my town (not sure about elsewhere) there is now a requirement for you to be seen by a GP skin specialist (forgot the name but basically a GP who is better knowledge on skin issues than just a GP) and asks you questions and then its up to them if you go on to see a NHS derm or not) but lets assume your town doesn't have this and you've got past it and are seeing an actual dermatologist, first thing they'll do is chat to you and just ask how long you've had acne and how it effects you etc and then they'll ask where your acne is and if you can show them (people claim they put you in a gown etc which wasn't the case for me) if you have acne on your back for example but don't feel comfortable taking your top off they will just ask you to explain the acne in that area then after that they'll make a treatment plan with you and if i remember rightly i got my prescription the same day (can only get Accutane from hospital pharmacy)

Correction : actually i forgot about blood tests...thats the most annoying part but yeah i'm pretty sure i had to do a blood test then on my next appointment i got my prescription or i got prescribed accutane on the first day but had to do a blood test before my next appointment, cant remember exactly sorry.
Original post by Anonymous
Hey I’ve been on these tablets for 6 weeks now! Been really really good so far, just having some dry skin/lips. But my skin has improved a lot and can’t wait for it to get even better. Wish you all the best

Glad to hear! this drug really is a miracle and after trying something like 6 antibiotics and tons of creams its the only thing that worked for me, best thing about it your skin will only get better so if you've had amazing results after just 6 weeks then thats good news but do keep in mind once you come off there is a small chance of getting the odd spot again, good luck!
(edited 1 year ago)

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